Glier’s Goettafest makes a triumphant return with a two-weekend, two-city festival

While many local events have returned in 2021, perhaps none is as region-specific as Glier’s Goettafest.

Goetta—a meat-and-grain sausage that’s similar to other German immigrant dishes such as scrapple and livermush—is a true Tristate original and was developed in the region. Nowhere else in the world will you find a festival celebrating goetta.

While the festival was put on hold last year due to COVID-19, it plans to return this year, bigger and better than ever. As in previous years, the festival covers two separate weekends over eight days—Thursday, July 29, through Sunday, Aug. 1, and Thursday, Aug. 5, through Sunday, Aug. 8.

However, for the first time in its 20-year history, the festival will expand its reach into two Northern Kentucky cities. Festivalgoers can still head to Newport’s festival park on Riverfront Row, but they can also enter the festival at the new Covington Plaza at the base of the Roebling Bridge. BB Riverboats will be ferrying visitors between the east and west festival sections. All-day wristbands are $5, and children 12 and under ride free.

Glier’s Goettafest may be bigger than ever, but event organizers say it will still have the same attractions that people have grown to love. There will be more than 60 goetta menu items (past festivals have featured goetta pizza, goetta nachos and goetta fudge), live music on three stages, a game tent, the goetta vending machine and more.

Admission to the festival is free. The festival hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, noon-11 p.m. Saturdays and noon- 9 p.m. Sundays.